Welcome to the final running diary of the 2010 regular season! Today we come to you live from Casa del Blomstrom in McLean, VA. Mr. Balls has graciously opened his home up to hopefully watch and celebrate the Fall of Troy. As I said in the brief pregame preview, I'm not too optimistic, but of course I'd love nothing more than to be completely wrong. Let's get too it!
8:00 Pretty weak montage to start the broadcast, surprisingly mediocre production value. It was essentially a slideshow of pictures with music behind it, might’ve been done in Microsoft PowerPoint.
8:03 Mitch Mustain gets the nod at QB. I’m sure a lot of people are happy about this, but let’s not forget he’s not exactly a slouch. He was a huge recruit and won a boatload of games in the SEC as a freshman. Did he have Darren McFadden and Felix Jones lining up behind him that year? Yes, but still. He’s a threat.
8:10 Lukewarm reception for the Trojans as they come in to the stadium. They have such a terrible fan base.
8:12 You know, we’re all jacked up for the game and fired up for the kickoff and ABC plays a “The Beatles are now on iTunes” commercial. It’s 30 seconds of “Yesterday,” what a downer. They couldn’t have chosen any other Beatles song for a commercial right before kickoff of a football game? The Beatles weren’t a depressing band, give me some “Can’t Buy Me Love” or “Hard Day’s Night” or anything that doesn’t make the audience depressed. Back to the game—the Trojans will receive the opening kickoff.
8:14 Harrison Smith drops a sure interception on the first play when Mustain overthrows his receiver on the first play. Hit him right in the hands—you HAVE to come up with that if you want to pull an upset on the road.
8:14 HUGE play by Gary Gray to stuff a quick throw out to the left flat. He did a great job shedding a block and blowing up what could’ve been a big play.
8:15 Three and out for the Trojans, great start for the Irish defense. Mustain doesn’t look very good out of the gate. COME ON IRISH, LET’S GO. ND will get the ball at their own 30 to start the drive.
8:18 Quick three and out after Cierre Wood gets stoned on 3rd and 1. Turk actually gets off a great 49-yard punt and pins SC back at the 12.
8:23 The Irish force a 3rd and 6 but Stanley Havili catches a pass out of the backfield for a 19-yard gain up the middle. Damn.
8:27 Manti PLANTS Robert Woods so deep on a 3rd down screen pass that Woods may grow and bear fruit on the field come spring. Another good stand by the defense and the Trojans are forced to punt again. Couldn’t be more thrilled with how the defense has started this game. Southern Cal punt gets to the endzone and ND will take over at the 20.
8:31 Rees is picked off on a short pass to Toma by Chris Galippo. Trojans ball at the 30. Shit.
8:33 ND holds on 3rd down. I wonder aloud, “Will they go for it?” Brad quickly responds, “What do you think Kiffin will do.” I need to remember who’s on the opposing sideline before asking dumb questions like that—of course they’re going for it.
8:34 False start blows up that thought but they split the uprights on the field goal and stake a 3-0 lead. We can’t afford to gift them points. Hopefully our offense can wake up a la the Utah game.
8:39 Robert Hughes bulls ahead for an 8-yard carry and the first ND first down of the game. If he’s running like that all day then Cierre better be ready to ride the pine.
8:42 Drive stalls and Turk evens out his average with a horrendous 22-yard punt so the Trojans will start at the 39. Turk is just so bad, I’m already excited for his graduation. Is there a way to replace him with a walk-on FOR THE LOVE OF GOD?!?
8:45 First quarter ends with SC driving into ND territory. Good start for the defense (68 yards allowed even though SC’s had the ball for 10 of the 15 minutes), disastrous start for the offense. Kelly needs to find a way to jumpstart the offensive attack or we’ll have no chance.
8:51 Southern Cal drops a ball right over the middle on third down and are forced to punt. Another good stand by the defense. Great punt pins ND at the Notre Dame 6. We need to respond here, we can’t expect the defense to continue like this the entire game. The offense needs to relieve a bit of pressure and piece together a drive that gives Manti and the boys a breather.
8:56 Not happening—another three and out. McDonough points out that every 3rd down ND has had has been short and manageable, which is a very good point. We’re not putting ourselves in impossible situations (which is a good sign), we just need to man up and will our way over the marker to get some sustained drives going. Decent Turk punt gets over midfield to the SC 42. Come on defense, keep it up.
9:01 Irish force another three and out. How BOUT that Bobby Diaco defense!?!?
9:02 First play of the drive is a nifty little 9-yard run on first down by Cierre Wood. He picks up the first down on the next carry.
9:04 Another first down on the ground for Cierre Wood and ND is out to the 43-yard line. Looking like we’re establishing a little rhythm.
9:06 Michael Floyd picks up a first down on 3rd and 7, great job of bulldozing forward for an extra six yards after he caught the ball. ND’s over midfield for the first time today.
9:09 Floyd converts another third down by willing his way to an extra two yards over the first down line. That’s what we need, way to pick us up #3! ND is on the 20.
9:10 TYLER EIFERT PICKS UP A FIRST DOWN AT THE ONE YARD LINE, RUNNING OVER A DEFENDER IN THE PROCESS. COME ON BABY, LET’S PUNCH IT IN!!!!
9:12 Two plays, two passes, two incompletions. I can hear CLoss screaming all the way from Chicago. Can’t say I disagree with him in this instance—would’ve rather seen some Hughes on at least one play. Of course all will be forgiven if we punch it in on third down. ND calls timeout to weigh options and get their giant picture cards in order. Pumpkin-Duck-Erin Andrews-Yogi Bear (which is code for the Wildcat Formation) was mixed up with Chipotle-Blood-Stool-Frowny Face (which is code for Chipotle causes bloody stool).
9:16 TOUCHDOOOOOOWN IRISH!!!! MICHAEL FLOYD BABY! QUICK LITTLE STICK ROUTE IN THE RIGHT SLOT FOR AN EASY PITCH AND CATCH. FOR THE FIRST TIME IN FIVE YEARS NOTRE DAME HAS TAKEN THE LEAD. LET’S GO BABY!!!!!!!!!! Notre Dame 7, Southern Cal 3.
9:21 Southern Cal gets a great return out to midfield and is moving with some purpose into ND territory.
9:22 Brian Smith STONES Havili on 3rd down bringing up 4th and 3. COME ON IRISH, STUFF’EM.
9:22 BRIAN SMITH BREAKS UP THE PASS AND NOTRE DAME WILL TAKE OVER ON DOWNS. ATTA BOY BRIAN, WAY TO SHOW UP!!!! ND ball at their own 38-yard line with 44 seconds left. Will BK be content to go into the halftime up 7-3 or will he be aggressive?
9:26 CIERRE WOOD TAKES A DRAW PLAY UP THE GUT FOR 28 YARDS ON THE FIRST PLAY. WHAT A GREAT PLAY CALL. Tommy Rees burns the final timeout, which was a dumb, panicked move caused by pure shock that the previous play worked so well.
9:27 Michael Floyd 19 yards down to the Southern Cal 15. Come on baby, find a way into the endzone, don’t settle for three.
9:28 Tyler Eifert down to the SC 7. PUNCH IT IN.
9:29 FLOYD TO THE ONE-INCH LINE AND THE CLOCK KEEPS MOVING, WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON WITH THIS CLOCK. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME IT’S CONTINUED MOVING ON THIS DRIVE WHEN IT SHOULD’VE STOPPED FOR THE FIRST DOWN. WHAT A GODDAMN HOMER JOB.
9:31 TOUCHDOOOOOOOOOOOWWWWWNNNNN IIIIRRRRRIIIISSSSHHHH!!!!! THE BARD OF BERGEN COUNTY, DUVAL KAMARA WITH A 1-YARD TOUCHDOWN CATCH. HOW YOU LIKE THEM APPLES LANE!?!??!?!?! I LOVE IT BABY, I LOVE IT!!!!
9:34 Ruffer biffs the extra point. Goddamnit to hell, please say that doesn’t come back to haunt us. Well, I guess it beats 7-3 or 10-3. Notre Dame 13, Southern Cal 3.
9:47 The half comes to a close and for the first time in about a decade we can say the Notre Dame Fighting Irish are manhandling Southern Cal. Take a look at these stats:
Time of Possession: ND – 15:09…SC – 14:51 (AND WE KICKED OFF!)
Rushing Yards: ND – 66…SC – 44
First Down: ND – 10…SC – 6
Kelly made the necessary adjustments, had the brilliant play call that kick-started the final drive, and once again found a way to get everything he could out of a freshman quarterback that’s about 330 days removed from his high school homecoming dance.
And for all the grief Diaco deserved for the Navy debacle he deserves equal praise for how the defense has responded in the games since then. It’s been a defensive masterpiece to this point. And by the way, I was completely wrong on Mustain—among other things. He’s a bum and the SC coaching staff is completely reluctant to try to take shots down the field. That seems really stupid when you have Ronald Johnson and Robert Woods on the outside, doesn’t it? In any case, it’s so fun to be wrong in situations like this.
Thirty minutes to go boys, let’s find a way to finish this game off.
Thirty. Minutes.
9:59 Irish receive the second half kickoff and get a good return out to the 29.
10:01 Interception by Tommy Rees. He missed a wide-open Cierre Wood on the left side and tried to force it to Kamara. SHIT. The Trojans take over at the Irish 21. COME ON DEFENSE, BAIL US OUT.
10:03 Trojan first down inside the 10-yard line. Come on defense, step up.
10:05 The Irish hold, another great stand by the defense. The Trojans bang home a chip shot and ND’s lead is cut to a touchdown. Notre Dame 13, Southern Cal 6.
10:11 Three and out for the Irish. I just got whiplash from the momentum shift that’s occurred over the last ten minutes. Rees does not look good—the second play of this drive should’ve been picked as well. Let’s go BK, get his head on straight. Southern Cal gets more good field position at their own 37.
10:15 One play and the Trojans are over midfield. Good throw on the rollout by Mustain.
10:17 The Irish hold again, Brian Smith broke up the pass on third down. Mustain’s throw was absolutely terrible, he looked terrified to get hit. Welcome back to the reality of playing games and not just preening on the sidelines Pretty Boy.
10:19 The offense looks completely lost. Rees looks terrible. This does not bode well.
10:20 Rees is sacked and fumbles. Southern Cal ball at the Irish 2-yard line. Robert Hughes whiffed on a cut block. There’s an unprintable string of expletives flying around right now and that horrible, sinking feeling that’s overwhelmed the room.
10:22 Notre Dame forces 4th and inches but Mustain sneaks it in to tie the game. Our offense has been a complete disaster—we’ve moved the ball FOR the Trojans. Sickening—two turnovers inside our own red zone. Tommy Rees better wake the hell up and realize the second half started. Notre Dame 13, Southern Cal 13 with 5:40 left in the third quarter.
10:26 Southern Cal student body is batting beach balls around. I don’t know why this makes me angry but it does in the worst way. I guess at this point you could probably show me a picture of the Pope wearing maroon and gold garb and I’d be angry.
10:28 Two plays, two draws, two yards. Big third down coming up for Notre Dame.
10:29 Michael Floyd comes up inches short on third down and the Irish have to punt again. Ben Turk punts it to the 42 and we’ll ask the defense to come up big for the 50th time tonight. They’re playing with a lot of confidence but you have to wonder at what point are you just asking too much.
10:32 Well we haven’t asked too much yet—the defense stones them for yet another three and out. The Irish will take over at the 10 after another good punt. It is pouring rain and has been for probably 10 minutes.
10:33 Robert Hughes rumbles for five yards on first down and four on second down. Big 3rd and 1 coming up here. Come on boys, pick this up.
10:34 HUUUUGHES right up the gut for seven yards and a first down.
10:35 The third quarter comes to a close after Hughes gashes the Trojans for another four yards.
What a disastrous quarter for ND. Rees has looked completely overwhelmed and did the one thing that we couldn’t afford: turnovers in our own territory. We handed them all 13 of their points on our three turnovers. The good news is that we’re still tied despite a -3 TO Differential. Please for the love of God find a way to win this game.
10:39 Hughes goes for another three yards and brings up a 3rd and 3. Come on Irish.
10:39 Rees almost throws another pick but thankfully it’s dropped because that would’ve been six in the bad guys’ direction. Notre Dame will have to punt but at least the field position battle will swing in our favor…that is if Turk gets off a decent punt. My faith in that is about 4%.
10:42 Decent punt is made better by a block in the back. Southern Cal will take over at the 21.
10:46 Another block in the back wipes out a big gain at the beginning of the drive, pushing it back to the 18-yard line. Tack on another five yards thanks to a false start.
10:47 It’s time to interview former ND announcer and current Southern Cal AD Pat Haden! I was one of the seemingly few people who thought Haden did a very nice job as the color guy. He seems like a great guy and I thought he was pretty sharp…and then he uttered, “Lane has been sensational, I think he’ll be here a long time—the perception and reality of Lane Kiffin are completely different.” You mean he’s an even BIGGER jackass than we think?!? How is that possible? Pat will be singing a different tune when the next batch of violations come out.
10:48 Great pass by Mustain for 38 yards on second and a mile. Damnit to hell.
10:49 Notre Dame defense responds again and forces another punt. ND will take over at the 16 with a little over ten minutes to go. We need a drive here. Come on Tommy, dig deep.
10:53 Interception on the first play. Rees throws into triple coverage and SC will take over at the 38. DAMNIT TO HELL TOMMY, WAKE THE HELL UP, YOU ARE GIFT-WRAPPING THESE IDIOTS THE GAME.
10:54 First down Southern Cal inside the 30-yard line. We need a turnover in the worst way. Really it appears that in order to have a shot at winning this game we need a pick-six. If the defense finds a way to do so then they’ll instantly be launched into 2002 Return to Glory Defense territory for clutchness (at least for this game).
10:57 The Southern Cal drive stalls and they’re going to have to try a 37-yard field goal in a driving rain storm. MISS IT NOONAN, MISS. NNNNNOONAN, NNNNNNOONAN.
10:58 The field goal is good. Notre Dame 13, Tommy Rees DBA Southern California 16. There’s 6:25 left in the game and we’ll need Rees to somehow rebound and lead a drive in the pouring rain. Not feeling particularly confident at this juncture. It would be a travesty to waste such a great defensive performance.
11:01 Notre Dame ball at the 23. We’ve got 77 yards to paydirt.
11:02 First play is a rollout pass to Michael Floyd for 11 yards. We go to him for the first time in what seems like an eternity (though who knows, maybe a couple of those passes that were batted down at the line were intended for #3) and we get a first down. Imagine that.
11:03 Huge run by Cierre is almost completely ruined by a fumble. Eifert jumps on it. My heart stopped for approximately four seconds. ND ball at the SC 40 with 5:20 left.
11:04 Good run by Hughes picks up six. He’s running with some purpose right now which is a great sign.
11:04 HUUUUUUUUUUUUGHHHHHEEES for another 13 yards. First down at the Southern Cal 23. COME ON BOYS, LET’S GET SIX.
11:05 HUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUGGGGHHEEEESSSSS FOR ANOTHER BULLDOZING 12 YARD RUN. FIRST AND GOAL AT THE 10.
11:06 Floyd for five. 2nd and goal. DON’T SETTLE FOR THREE, FINISH THEM!
11:07 HUUUUUUUUUUGGGGGGGHHHHHHHEEEESSSSSSSSS!!!!!!!! TOUCHDOOOOOOOOWNNNN IRIIIIIISSSSSSSSHHHHH!!!!!!! BULL-EFFING-DOZER, THE IRISH HAVE STORMED BACK TO TAKE THE LEAD!!!!!!!!!! HEROES 20, VILLAINS 16 WITH 2:23 TO GO.
11:10 Southern Cal has the ball at the 31 with three timeouts and 2:16 to go. For the first time in God knows how long I’m actually confident our defense can come up with a stop. Could this be the ND fan base’s Dave Roberts Moment?
11:11 Robert Blanton baaaaaaaarely tips a ball and the receiver drops it. Had he caught it he had the entire state in front of him, he could’ve gone for miles. Not a good start defense, COME ON, DON’T BREAK NOW.
11:12 Notre Dame sniffs out a second down screen pass and brings up 3rd and 7 with 1:24 left. KILLLLLLLLL!!!
11:13 Sweet Baby Jesus. Harrison Smith falls down and Ronald Johnson—who is WIIIIIIIIIIIDDDDEEEE OPEN for a touchdown, so open he could’ve crab-walked his way in—just flatout drops it. Holy shit, what a gift. Someone upstairs has decided that this streak ends tonight. I need a new pair of pants. It’s 4th and 7—REDEEM YOURSELF FOR 4TH AND 9 IN ‘05. KILLLLLL!!!!!!!!!!!
11:15 First down Trojans. Next play is another first down. Southern Cal ball at the 23, under a minute left. I want to throw up.
11:16 Brian Smith comes in and hits Mustain as he throws, incomplete. He’s playing a great game. I am so nauseous I can barely type. 44 seconds left. Please stop them. Please.
11:17 INTERCEPTION NOTRE DAME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! HARRISON SMITH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! HOLY MOTHER OF GOD WE DID IT!!!!!!!!! YEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEESSSSSSSSIIIIIRRRRRRRRRR!!!!!!
11:19 AHHHHHHHHHHHH I CAN’T BELIEVE!!!! UN-FREAKING-BELIEVABLE. ND is forced to sneak it out from underneath the uprights, which is perilous and something I should probably be worried about but I couldn’t care less right now. If God wanted us to lose he wouldn’t have reached down from heaven and tipped that ball away from Ronald Johnson on the final drive, am I right?!?!
11:20 WEEEE ARRRREEE NNNNNN DDDDDDD!!!!!!!
11:22 IT’S OVER!!!!!!!! THE GAME IS OVER, THE STREAK IS OVER, POP THE CHAMPAGNE BABYYYYYYY!!!!!!!!!!!
NOTRE DAME 20
SOUTHERN CAL 16
Quick Hits
1 – I can’t believe it finally happened.
2 – HOW ABOUT THAT IRISH DEFENSE!?!?!?!? What an effort, best showing in eight years. Borderline dominant.
3 – Robert Hughes, what an unbelievable performance on the last drive.
4 – If someone told you that we were going lose the turnover battle 4-1, that each of our four turnovers would come in our own territory, and the Trojans would score after each one of them…what would you have predicted the final would’ve been?
5 – Get used to it Lane—there’s a new sheriff in town.
People will debate whether this qualifies as a “signature win” for Brian Kelly. The answer is: who the hell cares?
8:00 Pretty weak montage to start the broadcast, surprisingly mediocre production value. It was essentially a slideshow of pictures with music behind it, might’ve been done in Microsoft PowerPoint.
8:03 Mitch Mustain gets the nod at QB. I’m sure a lot of people are happy about this, but let’s not forget he’s not exactly a slouch. He was a huge recruit and won a boatload of games in the SEC as a freshman. Did he have Darren McFadden and Felix Jones lining up behind him that year? Yes, but still. He’s a threat.
8:10 Lukewarm reception for the Trojans as they come in to the stadium. They have such a terrible fan base.
8:12 You know, we’re all jacked up for the game and fired up for the kickoff and ABC plays a “The Beatles are now on iTunes” commercial. It’s 30 seconds of “Yesterday,” what a downer. They couldn’t have chosen any other Beatles song for a commercial right before kickoff of a football game? The Beatles weren’t a depressing band, give me some “Can’t Buy Me Love” or “Hard Day’s Night” or anything that doesn’t make the audience depressed. Back to the game—the Trojans will receive the opening kickoff.
8:14 Harrison Smith drops a sure interception on the first play when Mustain overthrows his receiver on the first play. Hit him right in the hands—you HAVE to come up with that if you want to pull an upset on the road.
8:14 HUGE play by Gary Gray to stuff a quick throw out to the left flat. He did a great job shedding a block and blowing up what could’ve been a big play.
8:15 Three and out for the Trojans, great start for the Irish defense. Mustain doesn’t look very good out of the gate. COME ON IRISH, LET’S GO. ND will get the ball at their own 30 to start the drive.
8:18 Quick three and out after Cierre Wood gets stoned on 3rd and 1. Turk actually gets off a great 49-yard punt and pins SC back at the 12.
8:23 The Irish force a 3rd and 6 but Stanley Havili catches a pass out of the backfield for a 19-yard gain up the middle. Damn.
8:27 Manti PLANTS Robert Woods so deep on a 3rd down screen pass that Woods may grow and bear fruit on the field come spring. Another good stand by the defense and the Trojans are forced to punt again. Couldn’t be more thrilled with how the defense has started this game. Southern Cal punt gets to the endzone and ND will take over at the 20.
8:31 Rees is picked off on a short pass to Toma by Chris Galippo. Trojans ball at the 30. Shit.
8:33 ND holds on 3rd down. I wonder aloud, “Will they go for it?” Brad quickly responds, “What do you think Kiffin will do.” I need to remember who’s on the opposing sideline before asking dumb questions like that—of course they’re going for it.
8:34 False start blows up that thought but they split the uprights on the field goal and stake a 3-0 lead. We can’t afford to gift them points. Hopefully our offense can wake up a la the Utah game.
8:39 Robert Hughes bulls ahead for an 8-yard carry and the first ND first down of the game. If he’s running like that all day then Cierre better be ready to ride the pine.
8:42 Drive stalls and Turk evens out his average with a horrendous 22-yard punt so the Trojans will start at the 39. Turk is just so bad, I’m already excited for his graduation. Is there a way to replace him with a walk-on FOR THE LOVE OF GOD?!?
8:45 First quarter ends with SC driving into ND territory. Good start for the defense (68 yards allowed even though SC’s had the ball for 10 of the 15 minutes), disastrous start for the offense. Kelly needs to find a way to jumpstart the offensive attack or we’ll have no chance.
8:51 Southern Cal drops a ball right over the middle on third down and are forced to punt. Another good stand by the defense. Great punt pins ND at the Notre Dame 6. We need to respond here, we can’t expect the defense to continue like this the entire game. The offense needs to relieve a bit of pressure and piece together a drive that gives Manti and the boys a breather.
8:56 Not happening—another three and out. McDonough points out that every 3rd down ND has had has been short and manageable, which is a very good point. We’re not putting ourselves in impossible situations (which is a good sign), we just need to man up and will our way over the marker to get some sustained drives going. Decent Turk punt gets over midfield to the SC 42. Come on defense, keep it up.
9:01 Irish force another three and out. How BOUT that Bobby Diaco defense!?!?
9:02 First play of the drive is a nifty little 9-yard run on first down by Cierre Wood. He picks up the first down on the next carry.
9:04 Another first down on the ground for Cierre Wood and ND is out to the 43-yard line. Looking like we’re establishing a little rhythm.
9:06 Michael Floyd picks up a first down on 3rd and 7, great job of bulldozing forward for an extra six yards after he caught the ball. ND’s over midfield for the first time today.
9:09 Floyd converts another third down by willing his way to an extra two yards over the first down line. That’s what we need, way to pick us up #3! ND is on the 20.
9:10 TYLER EIFERT PICKS UP A FIRST DOWN AT THE ONE YARD LINE, RUNNING OVER A DEFENDER IN THE PROCESS. COME ON BABY, LET’S PUNCH IT IN!!!!
9:12 Two plays, two passes, two incompletions. I can hear CLoss screaming all the way from Chicago. Can’t say I disagree with him in this instance—would’ve rather seen some Hughes on at least one play. Of course all will be forgiven if we punch it in on third down. ND calls timeout to weigh options and get their giant picture cards in order. Pumpkin-Duck-Erin Andrews-Yogi Bear (which is code for the Wildcat Formation) was mixed up with Chipotle-Blood-Stool-Frowny Face (which is code for Chipotle causes bloody stool).
9:16 TOUCHDOOOOOOWN IRISH!!!! MICHAEL FLOYD BABY! QUICK LITTLE STICK ROUTE IN THE RIGHT SLOT FOR AN EASY PITCH AND CATCH. FOR THE FIRST TIME IN FIVE YEARS NOTRE DAME HAS TAKEN THE LEAD. LET’S GO BABY!!!!!!!!!! Notre Dame 7, Southern Cal 3.
9:21 Southern Cal gets a great return out to midfield and is moving with some purpose into ND territory.
9:22 Brian Smith STONES Havili on 3rd down bringing up 4th and 3. COME ON IRISH, STUFF’EM.
9:22 BRIAN SMITH BREAKS UP THE PASS AND NOTRE DAME WILL TAKE OVER ON DOWNS. ATTA BOY BRIAN, WAY TO SHOW UP!!!! ND ball at their own 38-yard line with 44 seconds left. Will BK be content to go into the halftime up 7-3 or will he be aggressive?
9:26 CIERRE WOOD TAKES A DRAW PLAY UP THE GUT FOR 28 YARDS ON THE FIRST PLAY. WHAT A GREAT PLAY CALL. Tommy Rees burns the final timeout, which was a dumb, panicked move caused by pure shock that the previous play worked so well.
9:27 Michael Floyd 19 yards down to the Southern Cal 15. Come on baby, find a way into the endzone, don’t settle for three.
9:28 Tyler Eifert down to the SC 7. PUNCH IT IN.
9:29 FLOYD TO THE ONE-INCH LINE AND THE CLOCK KEEPS MOVING, WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON WITH THIS CLOCK. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME IT’S CONTINUED MOVING ON THIS DRIVE WHEN IT SHOULD’VE STOPPED FOR THE FIRST DOWN. WHAT A GODDAMN HOMER JOB.
9:31 TOUCHDOOOOOOOOOOOWWWWWNNNNN IIIIRRRRRIIIISSSSHHHH!!!!! THE BARD OF BERGEN COUNTY, DUVAL KAMARA WITH A 1-YARD TOUCHDOWN CATCH. HOW YOU LIKE THEM APPLES LANE!?!??!?!?! I LOVE IT BABY, I LOVE IT!!!!
9:34 Ruffer biffs the extra point. Goddamnit to hell, please say that doesn’t come back to haunt us. Well, I guess it beats 7-3 or 10-3. Notre Dame 13, Southern Cal 3.
9:47 The half comes to a close and for the first time in about a decade we can say the Notre Dame Fighting Irish are manhandling Southern Cal. Take a look at these stats:
Time of Possession: ND – 15:09…SC – 14:51 (AND WE KICKED OFF!)
Rushing Yards: ND – 66…SC – 44
First Down: ND – 10…SC – 6
Kelly made the necessary adjustments, had the brilliant play call that kick-started the final drive, and once again found a way to get everything he could out of a freshman quarterback that’s about 330 days removed from his high school homecoming dance.
And for all the grief Diaco deserved for the Navy debacle he deserves equal praise for how the defense has responded in the games since then. It’s been a defensive masterpiece to this point. And by the way, I was completely wrong on Mustain—among other things. He’s a bum and the SC coaching staff is completely reluctant to try to take shots down the field. That seems really stupid when you have Ronald Johnson and Robert Woods on the outside, doesn’t it? In any case, it’s so fun to be wrong in situations like this.
Thirty minutes to go boys, let’s find a way to finish this game off.
Thirty. Minutes.
9:59 Irish receive the second half kickoff and get a good return out to the 29.
10:01 Interception by Tommy Rees. He missed a wide-open Cierre Wood on the left side and tried to force it to Kamara. SHIT. The Trojans take over at the Irish 21. COME ON DEFENSE, BAIL US OUT.
10:03 Trojan first down inside the 10-yard line. Come on defense, step up.
10:05 The Irish hold, another great stand by the defense. The Trojans bang home a chip shot and ND’s lead is cut to a touchdown. Notre Dame 13, Southern Cal 6.
10:11 Three and out for the Irish. I just got whiplash from the momentum shift that’s occurred over the last ten minutes. Rees does not look good—the second play of this drive should’ve been picked as well. Let’s go BK, get his head on straight. Southern Cal gets more good field position at their own 37.
10:15 One play and the Trojans are over midfield. Good throw on the rollout by Mustain.
10:17 The Irish hold again, Brian Smith broke up the pass on third down. Mustain’s throw was absolutely terrible, he looked terrified to get hit. Welcome back to the reality of playing games and not just preening on the sidelines Pretty Boy.
10:19 The offense looks completely lost. Rees looks terrible. This does not bode well.
10:20 Rees is sacked and fumbles. Southern Cal ball at the Irish 2-yard line. Robert Hughes whiffed on a cut block. There’s an unprintable string of expletives flying around right now and that horrible, sinking feeling that’s overwhelmed the room.
10:22 Notre Dame forces 4th and inches but Mustain sneaks it in to tie the game. Our offense has been a complete disaster—we’ve moved the ball FOR the Trojans. Sickening—two turnovers inside our own red zone. Tommy Rees better wake the hell up and realize the second half started. Notre Dame 13, Southern Cal 13 with 5:40 left in the third quarter.
10:26 Southern Cal student body is batting beach balls around. I don’t know why this makes me angry but it does in the worst way. I guess at this point you could probably show me a picture of the Pope wearing maroon and gold garb and I’d be angry.
10:28 Two plays, two draws, two yards. Big third down coming up for Notre Dame.
10:29 Michael Floyd comes up inches short on third down and the Irish have to punt again. Ben Turk punts it to the 42 and we’ll ask the defense to come up big for the 50th time tonight. They’re playing with a lot of confidence but you have to wonder at what point are you just asking too much.
10:32 Well we haven’t asked too much yet—the defense stones them for yet another three and out. The Irish will take over at the 10 after another good punt. It is pouring rain and has been for probably 10 minutes.
10:33 Robert Hughes rumbles for five yards on first down and four on second down. Big 3rd and 1 coming up here. Come on boys, pick this up.
10:34 HUUUUGHES right up the gut for seven yards and a first down.
10:35 The third quarter comes to a close after Hughes gashes the Trojans for another four yards.
What a disastrous quarter for ND. Rees has looked completely overwhelmed and did the one thing that we couldn’t afford: turnovers in our own territory. We handed them all 13 of their points on our three turnovers. The good news is that we’re still tied despite a -3 TO Differential. Please for the love of God find a way to win this game.
10:39 Hughes goes for another three yards and brings up a 3rd and 3. Come on Irish.
10:39 Rees almost throws another pick but thankfully it’s dropped because that would’ve been six in the bad guys’ direction. Notre Dame will have to punt but at least the field position battle will swing in our favor…that is if Turk gets off a decent punt. My faith in that is about 4%.
10:42 Decent punt is made better by a block in the back. Southern Cal will take over at the 21.
10:46 Another block in the back wipes out a big gain at the beginning of the drive, pushing it back to the 18-yard line. Tack on another five yards thanks to a false start.
10:47 It’s time to interview former ND announcer and current Southern Cal AD Pat Haden! I was one of the seemingly few people who thought Haden did a very nice job as the color guy. He seems like a great guy and I thought he was pretty sharp…and then he uttered, “Lane has been sensational, I think he’ll be here a long time—the perception and reality of Lane Kiffin are completely different.” You mean he’s an even BIGGER jackass than we think?!? How is that possible? Pat will be singing a different tune when the next batch of violations come out.
10:48 Great pass by Mustain for 38 yards on second and a mile. Damnit to hell.
10:49 Notre Dame defense responds again and forces another punt. ND will take over at the 16 with a little over ten minutes to go. We need a drive here. Come on Tommy, dig deep.
10:53 Interception on the first play. Rees throws into triple coverage and SC will take over at the 38. DAMNIT TO HELL TOMMY, WAKE THE HELL UP, YOU ARE GIFT-WRAPPING THESE IDIOTS THE GAME.
10:54 First down Southern Cal inside the 30-yard line. We need a turnover in the worst way. Really it appears that in order to have a shot at winning this game we need a pick-six. If the defense finds a way to do so then they’ll instantly be launched into 2002 Return to Glory Defense territory for clutchness (at least for this game).
10:57 The Southern Cal drive stalls and they’re going to have to try a 37-yard field goal in a driving rain storm. MISS IT NOONAN, MISS. NNNNNOONAN, NNNNNNOONAN.
10:58 The field goal is good. Notre Dame 13, Tommy Rees DBA Southern California 16. There’s 6:25 left in the game and we’ll need Rees to somehow rebound and lead a drive in the pouring rain. Not feeling particularly confident at this juncture. It would be a travesty to waste such a great defensive performance.
11:01 Notre Dame ball at the 23. We’ve got 77 yards to paydirt.
11:02 First play is a rollout pass to Michael Floyd for 11 yards. We go to him for the first time in what seems like an eternity (though who knows, maybe a couple of those passes that were batted down at the line were intended for #3) and we get a first down. Imagine that.
11:03 Huge run by Cierre is almost completely ruined by a fumble. Eifert jumps on it. My heart stopped for approximately four seconds. ND ball at the SC 40 with 5:20 left.
11:04 Good run by Hughes picks up six. He’s running with some purpose right now which is a great sign.
11:04 HUUUUUUUUUUUUGHHHHHEEES for another 13 yards. First down at the Southern Cal 23. COME ON BOYS, LET’S GET SIX.
11:05 HUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUGGGGHHEEEESSSSS FOR ANOTHER BULLDOZING 12 YARD RUN. FIRST AND GOAL AT THE 10.
11:06 Floyd for five. 2nd and goal. DON’T SETTLE FOR THREE, FINISH THEM!
11:07 HUUUUUUUUUUGGGGGGGHHHHHHHEEEESSSSSSSSS!!!!!!!! TOUCHDOOOOOOOOWNNNN IRIIIIIISSSSSSSSHHHHH!!!!!!! BULL-EFFING-DOZER, THE IRISH HAVE STORMED BACK TO TAKE THE LEAD!!!!!!!!!! HEROES 20, VILLAINS 16 WITH 2:23 TO GO.
11:10 Southern Cal has the ball at the 31 with three timeouts and 2:16 to go. For the first time in God knows how long I’m actually confident our defense can come up with a stop. Could this be the ND fan base’s Dave Roberts Moment?
11:11 Robert Blanton baaaaaaaarely tips a ball and the receiver drops it. Had he caught it he had the entire state in front of him, he could’ve gone for miles. Not a good start defense, COME ON, DON’T BREAK NOW.
11:12 Notre Dame sniffs out a second down screen pass and brings up 3rd and 7 with 1:24 left. KILLLLLLLLL!!!
11:13 Sweet Baby Jesus. Harrison Smith falls down and Ronald Johnson—who is WIIIIIIIIIIIDDDDEEEE OPEN for a touchdown, so open he could’ve crab-walked his way in—just flatout drops it. Holy shit, what a gift. Someone upstairs has decided that this streak ends tonight. I need a new pair of pants. It’s 4th and 7—REDEEM YOURSELF FOR 4TH AND 9 IN ‘05. KILLLLLL!!!!!!!!!!!
11:15 First down Trojans. Next play is another first down. Southern Cal ball at the 23, under a minute left. I want to throw up.
11:16 Brian Smith comes in and hits Mustain as he throws, incomplete. He’s playing a great game. I am so nauseous I can barely type. 44 seconds left. Please stop them. Please.
11:17 INTERCEPTION NOTRE DAME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! HARRISON SMITH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! HOLY MOTHER OF GOD WE DID IT!!!!!!!!! YEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEESSSSSSSSIIIIIRRRRRRRRRR!!!!!!
11:19 AHHHHHHHHHHHH I CAN’T BELIEVE!!!! UN-FREAKING-BELIEVABLE. ND is forced to sneak it out from underneath the uprights, which is perilous and something I should probably be worried about but I couldn’t care less right now. If God wanted us to lose he wouldn’t have reached down from heaven and tipped that ball away from Ronald Johnson on the final drive, am I right?!?!
11:20 WEEEE ARRRREEE NNNNNN DDDDDDD!!!!!!!
11:22 IT’S OVER!!!!!!!! THE GAME IS OVER, THE STREAK IS OVER, POP THE CHAMPAGNE BABYYYYYYY!!!!!!!!!!!
NOTRE DAME 20
SOUTHERN CAL 16
Quick Hits
1 – I can’t believe it finally happened.
2 – HOW ABOUT THAT IRISH DEFENSE!?!?!?!? What an effort, best showing in eight years. Borderline dominant.
3 – Robert Hughes, what an unbelievable performance on the last drive.
4 – If someone told you that we were going lose the turnover battle 4-1, that each of our four turnovers would come in our own territory, and the Trojans would score after each one of them…what would you have predicted the final would’ve been?
5 – Get used to it Lane—there’s a new sheriff in town.
People will debate whether this qualifies as a “signature win” for Brian Kelly. The answer is: who the hell cares?
We just traveled across the country with a backup, freshman quarterback, a backup running back, without our best defensive lineman and our potential all-american tight end, and punched the bully that had tormented us for eight years square in the mouth. We came back in a driving rainstorm and pounded the ball down Southern Cal’s throat for a go-ahead touchdown in a way we haven’t seen since 1995.
This was a great win, a “turn the corner” win. As Brian Kelly said post-game, “Today we put the Fight back in the Fighting Irish.”
Damn it feels good.
GO IRISH!
Damn it feels good.
GO IRISH!
Good account of the game and the writer had the same emotions as me throughout the game. Defense was best since Holtz days. Can't figure out whether I like or hate Rees. If these are only freshman mistakes, I like him, as he seems to have an air of confidence and his 3-0 record is a lot better than D.C.'s record of 4-5 as a starter. I hate USC so, and this win feels as good as any in a long time. This series has a long history of one team dominating the other for streaks, and hopefully, a new streak is starting!!
ReplyDeletegood stuff; thx
ReplyDeleteYeah, that was an awesome recap. I had the same experience watching the game. I read a lot of game recaps, and your stream-of-consciousness write up was both more enjoyable and more informative than just about all of them.
ReplyDeleteThanks and GO IRISH!
Mouth of the South